Football training sled

ABSTRACT

An adjustable football training sled includes transversely spaced parallel runners joined by a pair of longitudinally spaced rear cross bars and a front cross bar bolted to the tops of the runners. Rectangular tubular clamp members slideably engage each of the rear cross bars and are provided with hand-screw tightened clamp plates. Blocking dummies are spaced along the sled and each is mounted on an angulated leaf spring including an upwardly rearwardly inclined leg and a forwardly directed leg which is releasably clamped between the rear cross bars and respective clamp plates and is transversely adjustable.

[ Apr. 16, 1974 United States Patent Gilman FOOTBALL TRAINING SLED US. Patent Office Nov. 7, 1956.

[76] Inventor:

Martin Gilman Gilman, Conn. 06336 J Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pmkham Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown [22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 169,206

Attorney, Agent, or FirmWilliam R. Liberman [57] ABSTRACT An adjustable football training sled includes trans- [Sf] U-S. 273/55 R versely spaced Parallel runners joined y a p of 1 Int. Cl.f........-............................--..... Spaced rear Cross bars and a front cross bar 8] Field 0 273/55, 55 R bolted to the p of the runners Rectangular tubular References Cited clamp members slldeably engage each of the rear UNITED STATES PATENTS cross bars and are provided with hand-screw tightened clamp plates. Blocking dummies are spaced along the 3,044,776 Weindmaier et 273/55 R sled and each is mounted on an angulated leaf spring 5 including an upwardly rearwardly inclined leg and a 2,653,816

Pillard.....................

Young forwardly directed leg which is releasably clamped be- OTHER PUBLICATIONS Martin Gilman inc. 1958, pg. 24.

tween the rear cross bars and respective clamp plates and is transversely adjustable.

Martin Gilman Football Equipment Catalog, Library, 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures maN a f 3v 14 am 2 x 2 W 9 y I Wa y PATENIEDAFR 16 1 M MARTIN J. GIILMAN ATTORNEY.

1 FOOTBALL TRAINING SLED BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to improvements in athletic training devices and it relates particularly to an improved football training sled.

An important exercise and activity in the training of football players relates to the development and improvement of their blocking abilities defensively and offensively, and individually and cooperatively as a team effort. Thus, football blocking exercises should not only be directed to the individual linesm'an or player, as such, but to the combined activity of the players and to different player relationships as represented by the large variety of plays. The blocking exercise equipment heretofore available such as the conventional football training sled not only fails to meet many of the requirements for good blocking training but are awkward and inconvenient devices of little versatility and adaptability, subject to frequent damage, difficult to repair, service, assemble and disassemble and inconvenient to store and otherwise handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved athletic training device. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved football training sled.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable multiple dummy football training sled.

A further object ofthe present invention is to provide an improved multiple dummy football training sled which is easy to assemble and disassemble and where the dummies and support springsare rapidly and simply reoriented on the sled relative to each other.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a training device of the above nature characterized by its ruggedness, simplicity, convenience of adjustment and use, and high versatility and adaptability.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof. 7

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of a football training device comprising a sled member, a plurality of transversely spaced dummy members positioned on the sled and connecting means for individually transversely adjusting the positions of and securing the dummy members to the sled.

The sled member advantageously includes a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extending parallel runners, a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending parallel first crossbars extending across the gaging a respective crossbar and a clamp plate between the tubular member top wall and the crossbar. A handscrew engages the clamp plate and a tapped bore in the tubular member top wall. Each leaf spring bottom leg passes between aligned transverse openings in the rear clamp member front and rear wall and the front clamp member rear wall and is releasably locked between the respective clamp plates and cross bars.

The improved football sled of the present invention is rugged and easy to assemble and disassemble and convenient to store. It can withstand long and continuous hard wear and abuse and the spring members, by reason of the method of mounting, last indefinitely. The dummies are adjustable in number and position relative to the sled and to each other, thus adapting the blocking device to various training; conditions, and the device is otherwise also highly versatile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front fragmentary perspective view of a football training sled embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved football training device which includes a base or sled section 11 and a plurality of blocking dummy members 12. Sled section 11 comprises a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extending parallel similarly shaped runners 13 which may be of any desirable transverse cross section but are advantageously heavy pipes or tubes; the major part 14 of each runner 13 is horizontal and linear and the leading end 16 thereof is slightly upwardly forwardly inclined. It should be noted that while only two runners 13 and four dummy members 12 are shown, more than two runners and any desired number of dummy members may be employed. The leading and trailing ends of runners 13 terminate in hemispherical plugs or caps 17.

Fixed to the top face of each runner 13, such as by welding or the like, is a first pair of front and rear couplingblocks l8 and 19 respectively which are located proximate the trailing end of runner 13 and a third rectangular coupling block 20 is fixed to the top face of the leading end of runner section 14 likewise by welding or the like. Each coupling block is provided with a centrally located vertical tapped bore. A first inverted channel shaped crossbar 21 extends transversely for the width sled member 11 and includes a top crossweb which rests on blocks 19 and depending legs which embrace the front and rear walls of blocks 19 and the crossbar is secured to blocks 19 by bolts 22 engaging the tapped bores in blocks 19 and aligned openings in the crossweb of crossbar 21. A second crossbar 23 parallel and similar in structure to and forward of crossbar 21 is releasably secured to runners 13 in the manner of crossbar 21 by bolts 22 engaging the tapped bores in coupling blocks 18. A third crossbar 24 likewise parallel and similar to and forward of cross-bars 21 and 23 is releasably secured to runner 13 in the manner of crossbars 21 and 23 by bolts 22 engaging the tapped bores in coupling blocks to provide a rigid sled frame.

A plurality of clamp devices 26 slideably engage each section of crossbar 21 between successive runners 13. Each clamp device 26 comprises a generally hollow rectangular tubular body member 27 through which crossbar 21 extends, body member 27 including parallel top and bottom walls 28 and 29 respectively separated a distance greater than the height of crossbar 21 and front and rear walls 32 and 33 respectively, having their confronting faces spaced a distance approximately equal to or slightly greater than the width of crossbar 21. The top wall 28 is provided with an upwardly enlarged medial section 34 having a centrally located vertical tapped bore.

A horizontal rectangular clamp plate 36 is vertically slideably positioned in clamp body member 27 between top wall 28 and crossbar 21 and is of a length and width substantially equal to the corresponding inside dimensions of body member 27. A threaded shank or screw member 37 projects through and engages the tapped bore in wall section 34 and is rotatably connected to the center of clamp plate 36 and has a shoulder bearing on the top face thereof. Screw member 37 terminates at its top in an enlarged head 38 provided with radially projecting handle defining opposite arms 39. A pair of longitudinally aligned coplanar horizontal transverse slots are formed in front and rear walls 32 and 33 at below and above the level of the top face of crossbar 21 when clamp bottom wall 29 abuts the underface of Crossbar 21.

A plurality of clamp devices 40 slideably engage each section of crossbar 23 between successive runners 13. The clamp devices 40 are similar in construction and number to clamp devices 26 except that the front walls 41 thereof are unslotted. Such unslotted front walls constitute a stop means against which the free ends of the horizontal legs of the leaf springs 42 abut so as to limit the forward movements of such legs relative to the clamp members and the bars, as shown in FIG. 2. In all other respects clamp devices 26 and 40- are identical, with the same reference numerals designating similar elements.

Each dummy member 12 includes an angulated supporting leaf spring 42 including an upwardly rearwardly inclined rear leg 43 resiliently joined at its bottom by an integral curved resilient elbow 44 to a forwardly directed horizontal leg 46. In the assembled device 10, spring leg 46 projects through the slots in the front and rear walls 32 and 33 of a respective clamp device 26 and through the slot in the rear wall 33 of a respective clamp device 40 into engagement with the front wall 32 of clamp device 40. Spring 46 is embraced by and tightly clamped between the confronting faces of clamp plates 36 and crossbars 21 and 24 by the hand tightening of respective screw members 37. Each spring leg 43 co-axially projects into and engages in'any suitable manner a padded or otherwise formed dummy body member 47 which may be of any known construction and desired shape and is preferably covered with heavy duck or canvas or other suitable material. Dummy body member 47 is upwardly rearwardly directed and is transversely spaced from adjacent dummy body members 47. The body member 47 upon the application of forward pressure thereto tilts forwardly toward the vertical position, as shown by broken line in FIG.

2, against the influence of spring 42 and is springreturned to its normal position upon relief of the applied pressure.

The training device 10 is generally shipped in a completely disassembled condition and is easily and quickly assembled and erected at the site of use. The clamp devices 26 and 40 are slid onto crossbars 21 and 23 properly oriented and arranged in the desired groups between successive runners 13, and the crossbars 21, 23 and 24 are then secured to the runners by bringing them into mating engagement with corresponding coupling blocks 19, 18 and 20 which are properly transversely spaced and aligned and the crossbars are tightly secured to the runners by bolts 22 to complete the assembly of the sled member. Thereafter, dummy members 12 are mounted on sled member 11 by inserting the corresponding spring legs 46 through the clamp wall slots and between clamp plates 36 and the respective crossbars 21 and 23 and then tightening the screws 37 by turning handles 39. The relative transverse positions of the dummy members 47 are rapidly adjusted merely by loosening the respective screws 37 and clamp plates 36, sliding the clamp members 26 and 40 along crossbars 21 and 23 to bring the associated dummy 47 to the desired position and then tightening clamp plates 36 with screws 37.

When the training device 10 is not in use, as after the football season is over, it may be desirable to remove the dummy members 12 by loosening clamp devices 26 and 40 and withdrawing springs 42 therefrom thereby to facilitate the storage of the dummy members 12 as well as the sled 11 separately. it should be noted that the durability and life of the leaf springs is radically increased by reason of the present clamp mounting method since it obviates the need for connecting bores or apertures being formed in the spring leg at points of maximum stress.

The assembled training device 10 is employed in the usual manner, the relative positions of the dummy members 12 being adjusted, as aforesaid, in accordance with the desired form of practice.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

1 claim:

1. A football training device comprising a sled member having a front and a rear end and being composed of transversely spaced apart longitudinally extending runners, a pair of front and rear longitudinally spaced transversely extending parallel bars extending at right angles to the runners and attached thereto in interconnecting fashion, a plurality of transversely spaced individual dummy members positioned on said sled and extending rearwardly therefrom, each dummy member comprising a padded body member and an angulated leaf spring including a substantially horizontal first'leg and an upwardly and rearwardly directed second leg supporting said body member a pair of clamp members clamping the first leg of the spring for each dummy member on the bars with a clamp member on each bar, said clamp members being bodily adjustable along the lengths of the bars so as to secure the dummy members on the bars in selectively variable positions relative to each other, said first leg being slidable through the clamp member on the rear bar and said clamp member 6 bore and having a face bearing on said clamp plate, said horizontal first leg being releasably embraced between said clamp plate and said crossbar.

3. The football training device of claim 1 wherein said front and rear pair of bars are bolted to said runners proximate the rear ends thereof and said sled includes another bar extending transversely across and bolted to said runners proximate the front ends thereof, and the clamps are mounted only on the said pair of 

1. A football training device comprising a sled member having a front and a rear end and being composed of transversely spaced apart longitudinally extending runners, a pair of front and rear longitudinally spaced transversely extending parallel bars extending at right angles to the runners and attached thereto in interconnecting fashion, a plurality of transversely spaced individual dummy members positioned on said sled and extending rearwardly therefrom, each dummy member comprising a padded body member and an angulated leaf spring including a substantially horizontal first leg and an upwardly and rearwardly directed second leg supporting said body member a pair of clamp members clamping the first leg of the spring for each dummy member on the bars with a clamp member on each bar, said clamp members being bodily adjustable along the lengths of the bars so as to secure the dummy members on the bars in selectively variable positions relative to each other, said first leg being slidable through the clamp member on the rear bar and said clamp member on the front bar having a stop means for limiting the forward movement of said leg relative to said clamp members and the bars.
 2. The football training device of claim 1 wherein said clamp members are longitudinally slideable along said bars and each clamp member includes top and bottom sections disposed above and below said bar top and bottom faces respectively, a clamp plate disposed between said bar top face and said clamp top section, said clamp top section having a threaded vertical bore therein, and a screw member engaging said threaded bore and having a face bearing on said clamp plate, said horizontal first leg being releasably embraced between said clamp plate and said crossbar.
 3. The football training device of claim 1 wherein said front and rear pair of bars are bolted to said runners proximate the rear ends thereof and said sled includes another bar extending transversely across and bolted to said runners proximate the front ends thereof, and the clamps are mounted only on the said pair of bars. 